Objective To compare the clinical efficacy between governor vessel moxibustion combined with warming acupuncture based on the supporting-yang theory and simple warming acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis（KOA） with yang deficiency and cold congelation. Methods A total of 64 patients with KOA of yang deficiency and cold congelation were randomized into a combination group（32 cases

2 cases dropped off） and a warming acupuncture group（32 cases

1 case dropped off）. In the warming acupuncture group

warming acupuncture was applied at Zusanli（ST 36）

Guanyuan（CV 4） and Dubi（ST 35）

Neixiyan（EX-LE 4）

etc. on the affected side

once a day. On the basis of the treatment in the warming acupuncture group

governor vessel moxibustion was applied in the combination group

once a week. The 14-day treatment was taken as one course

and totally 2 courses with 2-day interval were required in the two groups. The clinical symptom score

the visual analogue scale（VAS） score and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis index（WOMAC） score were observed before treatment

after treatment and in the follow-up of 12 weeks after treatment; the volume of suprapatellar bursa effusion was detected before and after treatment; the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment and in the follow-up in the two groups. Results After treatment and in the follow-up

the scores of clinical symptom

VAS and WOMAC were decreased compared before treatment in both groups（P<0.05）

and those in the combination group were lower than the warming acupuncture group（P<0.05）. After treatment

the volume of suprapatellar bursa effusion was decreased compared before treatment in both groups（P<0.05）. After treatment and in the follow-up

the total effective rates were 93.3%（28/30） and 86.7%（26/30） in the combination group

which were superior to 87.1%（27/31） and 74.2%（23/31） in the warming acupuncture group respectively（P<0.05）. Conclusion Governor vessel moxibustion combined with warming acupuncture can improve the clinical symptoms i.e. pain and dysfunction and reduce the volume of suprapatellar bursa effusion in KOA patients with yang deficiency and cold congelation

its short-term effect and long-term effect are both superior to simple warming acupuncture.